Actually Michele Bachmann was my first choice with Herman Cain as my second. Rick Santorum was my 3rd choice but I ended up thinking he was the best choice in the first place. The fact that he was able to draw myself and many others to him late in the campaign was a good indicator.
Santorum proved to be the candidate who won primaries outside of his backyard when no one else appeared to be able to. I predicted trouble for Romney when he and Santorum tied in Michigan. In 08, Romney beat McCain here by nearly 10 points. Santorum was simply a lot better at speaking to the guy on the factory floor without pretending to be like him.
Santorum wisely went for the base first. Romney went to urban areas in the primaries but they weren't going to vote for him in the general and didn't.
Rush: Romney is winning like a liberalSantorum proved to be the candidate who won primaries outside of his backyard Problem was he couldn't win in his own backyard and he certainly didn't appear to have the fire in the belly necessary for the long haul. He saw the writing on the wall. I too liked Bachmann and Cain, but Michele barely retained her congressional seat and neither she nor Cain could possibly withstand the assault from the MSM.